SHURE KSM27
Shure's KSM27 ($575) cardioid condenser microphone offers low self-noise and a wide dynamic range. The manufacturer also claims a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
The KSM27 features a 1-inch ultrathin diaphragm and Class A transformerless preamp circuitry for eliminating crossover distortion. The package includes a rubber-isolated, external-locking shockmount and a velveteen carrying pouch. Shure, Inc.; tel. (800) 25-SHURE or (847) 866-2200; e-mail info@shure.com; Web www.shure.com.
BOSS BR-532
The Boss BR-532 ($495) 4-track portable digital studio plays sampled rhythm patterns stored in ROM and lets you record two tracks at a time. However, all four tracks and a stereo drum track can play simultaneously. The BR-532 gives you 32 virtual tracks and allows you to bounce four tracks to a stereo virtual track or to a single track.
The BR-532 uses SmartMedia cards for storage. The package includes a 32 MB card, but the BR-532 will accept cards as large as 128 MB. With a SmartMedia card reader, you can transfer your tracks to a computer for additional editing. Onboard editing features include Copy, Move, Cut, and Paste. You get one Locator point at a time and a single level of undo.
The recorder comes with two independent multi-effects processors. Effects include guitar-amp modeling, acoustic guitar and bass simulators, delay, reverb, chorus, and EQ. You can apply effects while recording or during mixdown.
The BR-532 sports a built-in microphone, an XLR mic input, an unbalanced ¼-inch high-impedance mic input, an unbalanced ¼-inch high-impedance guitar or bass input, a pair of analog RCA inputs and outputs, a ¼-inch stereo headphone jack, an optical S/PDIF output, and a MIDI Out port. Roland Corporation U.S.; tel. (323) 890-3700; Web www.bossus.com.
GODIN GUITARS MULTIAC JAZZ
Because of its humbucking and piezoelectric pickups, the Godin Guitars Multiac Jazz ($2,295) combines the classic hollow-body sound of an electric jazz guitar with the qualities of an acoustic instrument. At the same time, the guitar offers direct access to MIDI guitar converters and Roland virtual-guitar processors.
The Multiac Jazz supports hexaphonic string output and MIDI access from its 13-pin output jack. To attain a more traditional jazz-guitar sound, the instrument sports a humbucking pickup mounted at the neck position. You can blend the output of the hexaphonic pickups with the humbucker to add a bit of definition to the typically mellow jazz-guitar sound. The guitar's upper bout offers a set of faders for preamp and EQ adjustments.
In addition to the 13-pin jack for the hexaphonic pickup outputs, the Multiac Jazz has one unbalanced ¼-inch output for each of the guitar's humbucking and piezoelectric pickups. La Si Do, Inc./Godin Guitars; tel. (514) 457-7977; e-mail sales@lasido.com; Web www.lasido.com or www.godinguitars.com.